Battle for Damascus: ‘We expect it will take a long time’

Dima al-Shami, 29, is a former teacher now working as a correspondent with the Sham News Network covering Damascus. She spoke with SAS News via Skype.

by Ahmed Kwider

Q: What do you see and what do you hear that is different in the past 24 hours? Are there any signs that things are different?

A: The most significant event is that we’ve heard the sound of the siren at the State Security Department in al-Khatib; something the regime would never sound unless something big happened. They also closed the electric company and bus station. Sounds of bombardment and clashes in the east were heard in the capital. Major checkpoints, like Harmleh and Zamalka, were destroyed, and soldiers there were targeted.

Q: Is Syria ready to start the battle of Damascus, where most of the internally displaced live, even though the Aleppo battle is still not over?

A: I can’t talk about the battle for Damascus now because it hasn’t started, but this epic battle is an important step to enter Damascus, and we expect it will take a long time. The FSA needs to hold many barracks before they start the battle for Damascus because they can’t do that if they don’t have their backs covered. Some of these locations are the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Air Force Intelligence department in Harasta and the Air Defense Administration in Mleiha.

Q: As an educated woman, a mother, a sister and a wife, how do you evaluate the situation inside? What is your vision about what’s happening?

A: It’s hard to evaluate the current status because there have been many changes. I can talk about the living conditions of the people of Damascus and Outer Damascus, which have gone from bad to worse due to the lack of security and the war the regime has started against the people. The medical situation is the most critical due to the lack of medicine and because many hospitals and clinics have suspended their work.

People lack gas and diesel, whereas the government army and militias use them to kill and destroy. It’s become so difficult for people to go out, and those who do, risk getting killed, or at least kidnapped or blackmailed by the shabiha.

Aug. 6, 2018

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